History of the museum

During the entire GDR era Peenemünde was a militarily restricted area, belonging to the National People’s Army. Immediately after the site was opened to the public, former soldiers and employees of the power plant founded the Historical Technical Information Center in the decommissioned power plant in 1991.

The first permanent exhibition used nothing more than the Bunkerwarte, the current entrance to the museum premises, but since 2000 much larger exhibitions have been placed in the power plant’s transformer station annex. The power plant facilities themselves were made publicly accessible step-by-step after extensive renovation between 2012 and 2015.

Until the end of 2009, the museum was sponsored by the municipality of Peenemünde. Since 2010, it has been a “gemeinnützige GmbH” (non-profit limited liability company), 51% of which is owned by the State of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and 49% by the municipality.